Atlanta Falcons right tackle Mike Johnson is scheduled for surgery after fracturing his fibula and dislocating his left ankle during Tuesday's practice with the team, according to D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Johnson's timeline for a return to the field is unknown at this time, but it's possible he could be lost for the entire 2013 season. As the likely starter at right tackle, the team is now searching for answers to fill in the spot to protect Matt Ryan.
Johnson was the Falcons' third-round pick out of Alabama in the 2010 NFL Draft. The team invested another third-round pick in this year's Draft in Lamar Holmes out of Southern Miss. Holmes is expected to earn the lion's share of snaps with the first team in practice as Mike Smith figures out how to shift around the offensive front.
Dave Choate of The Falcoholic believes that a move in the open market might happen with the lack of proven options on the roster:
The Falcons will almost certainly consider breaking the glass on that $7+ million in emergency money now, seeking a veteran right tackle who can push Lamar Holmes and offer up a more reassuring name than Ryan Schrader. There aren't a ton of quality options out there, but if he's healthy, Sean Locklear would probably top my list.
The Falcons will update the situation after the surgery.
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